The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
James is voted first team All-NBA
LeBron James, by a worldwide panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, was named to the All-NBA first-team for the 11th time in his 14-year career. However, one ballot had him on the second team.
There has to be a conspiracy theory here somewhere.
LeBron James, on May 18, by a worldwide panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, was named to the All-NBA first-team for the 11th time in his 14year career.
The honor for the Cavaliers star, now in his 14th season, comes as no surprise. What is surprising is one of the 100 voters did not give James a first-team vote. He should not feel alone.
Guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets was the only unanimous firstteam choice. Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, like James, was voted first team on 99 of 100 ballots.
No Cavaliers were voted to the second or third allNBA teams, despite the Cavs being defending champions.
The award for James comes on the eve of the Cavaliers playing the Celtics in Boston in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Though votes were cast before the conference finals began, it is worth noting James scored 38 points in Game 1 against the Celtics on May 17. The Cavs won, 117-104, to go 9-0 in the playoffs this year. James is averaging 34.8 points a game in the playoffs — more than eight points a game (26.4) more than he averaged in the regular season.
James, 32, instead of slowing down, set personal regular season records by averaging 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists a game.
Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone, and now James, are the only players in league history to make the All-NBA first team 11 times. James has been in the elite group 10 straight times and was all NBA second-team twice early in his career. One way or the other, he has been on an all-NBA pick each of the last 13 years.
Votes were cast on a points basis — five points for first, three for second and one for third. The panel was told to vote for two guards, two forwards and one center. If a player played multiple positions, as James does, votes were counted for the position he plays most. James is listed as a forward.